India Consolidate After Twin Loss
The Sri Lankans hit their straps early on day three of the third and final test against the Indians at the P.Sara Oval in Colombo.
Overnight batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 were sent packing inside the first six overs of the day in what were two body blows to the tourists aiming to win the test and square the three match series 1-1.
Tendulkar was the first to go on day three; the master blaster dabbed at a off course delivery from Lasith Malinga and feathered a catch to an elated wicket-keeper Prasana Jayawardene behind the stumps. The player with the highest number of runs made in test cricket added a mere single to his overnight score of 40, his 41 run knock came off 72 balls and included five fours.
His partner Sehwag completed another effortless ton, the 21st of an amazing career of an incredible 90 balls. The merciless butcher from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 was in savage touch for the third time in the series hitting as many as 18 boundaries on his way to his ton.
The opener underlined his importance at the top for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, and further enhanced his reputation of being the best in the business at the top of the innings. However just when he looked set for another big hundred, the right hander scooped an easy catch at mid-off which was gleefully accepted by Welegedera, as off-spinner Randiv celebrated his first success of the day.
Sehwag’s was eventually dismissed after facing 105 balls, striking 19 fours in his belligerent knock. His departure brought Suresh Raina to the crease, Raina had a dream start to his test career in the second test where he scored a match saving hundred, in a 200 run plus partnership with Tendulkar.
This time around he had http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 attack.
The Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara brought back his main wicket-taker Lasith Malinga fifteen minutes before the lunch break in an attempt of breaking the partnership. However he failed in achieving a success, as the Indians took lunch at 282/4, with Laxman on 42 and Raina unbeaten on 39 and the match evenly poised.
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